The UK will remain EPO member regardless of Brexit

Since referendum of 2016 with the results in favor of Brexit, both EP patent holders and practicing attorneys raised their concerns regarding the future of European patent in the UK. Eventually, after months of debates and negotiations, the representatives of the EPO and Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys (CIPA) came up with the decision, that seems to be the final one.

The meeting between CIPA delegates and EPO representatives took place in Munich on January 25, 2018, where it was clearly stated that the European Patent Office is an international organization, which is not limited by the EU regulations. This also permits the EU patent to be validated in the countries that are not member states of the European Union. From now on, patent holders and applicants are on the safe side as well as the UK patent attorneys, who remain authorized to act for the applicants in the proceedings before the EPO.

Besides, as the representatives of the CIPA and EPO confirmed the progress in the ratification of the UPC agreement by the UK, it means that the Brexit is likely to have no effect on the implementation of the Unitary Patent system in the country as well.

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